Piano-forte-damper action



(No Model.)

G. W. NEILL. PIANO FORTE DAMPER ACTION.

Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

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(info r' UNrTEn STATES PATENT @rrten,

GEORGE lYASHIXGTOX NEILL, OF BOSTOX, llL\SS.-'\(l-llfSEl"lS.

PlANG-FORTE-DAMPER ACTiON.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE \Vi-rsruxtxrox NEILL, of Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Piano-Forte-Damper Actions; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification, andrepresented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a piano key and damper, and the operative lever of thelatter,as provided with my invention, the nature of which is defined inthe claims hereinafter presented.

In Fig. 1 the parts are shown in the position they have when the damperis down upon the string; but in Fig. 2, which is a view similar to thatof Fig. l, the damper is exhibited as held in a raised position by meansof the retainer and latch, to be hereinafter described, the key beingshown as fallen back upon its rest.

The invention is to support the damper in a raised position relativelyto its string in order that there may be a prolongation of the soundemitted by the string, or more or less vibration of such stringimmediately after the string may have been struck by the hammer of theaction, and such hammer may have fallen back upon its rest. Theinvention is independent of the usual pedal and mechanism for raisingall the dampers at once oft the strings, and is to effect the elevationof one or more of them, as circumstances may require.

In the drawings, A denotes the key; 13, the damper, and O the operativelover of such damper, the damper-rod a at its lower part being pivotedto the lever, and such lever being projected over and upon the key inmanner as represented. The fulcrum of such lever is shown at I).Arranged over the lever is the retainer D, which is a bar wedged shapedor otherwise properly formed in transverse section. It extends alongover each of the damper-levers, and at each of its ends and at itsmiddle is supported by an arm, 0. By means of such arm it is movable ina short are of a circle,and between two stationary stops, (Z ande,'arranged as represented. The movement upward of such retainer is tobe effected by a pedal suitably connected with one or each of part ofLetters Patent No. 291,528, dated January 8, 1884.

Application filed June 5,1853. X0 model.)

the said arm, and arranged in a convenient position for a player on thepiano to operate it (the said pedal) by his foot.

Between the retainer D and the j oint-piece d of the damper-rod thereisalatch, E, which. shaped as shown, is pivoted to the damper lever anddrawn forward or toward the retainer by means of a spring, 0, connectedto the said lever and latch. The upper part or head of the latchisbeveled or inclincd,as represented, and there is screwed through theshank of the latch a wire, f, provided at its ends next to the retainerwith a button or stop,

7, to bear against a stop or abutment, g, of

the damper-lever. On striking the key, the damper-lever and damper willbe operated in the ordinary manner,provided the pedal is not depressedby the performer; but should the pedal be operated so as to cause theretainer to be forced up against the upper of its stops, and the hey bestruck, the latch, while the damper-lever may be in motion upward, willbe borne in contact with the retainer and be moved so as to catch orhool; upon it and with it hold the damper up ofi' the string after orbefore the hand of the performer may have left the key and while theretainer may be in its elevated position.

Although the latch is shown in the drawings as pivoted to thedamper-lever, it may, in some cases, be pivoted to the jointpiece d,-but I preferto connect it directly with the said lever.

lVith my invention important advantages are attainable in the playing ofthe piano forte, for with it any one or more of the damp ers may be heldraised relatively to the string or strings while the keys of otherdampers maybe in the act of being played; and, be sides, by having thelatch to operate as de scribed with the retainer, there is no danger ofinjury to the damper-lever or to the retainer, that is liable to followwhen the retainer is arranged opposite to and parallel with the ends ofthe damper-levers, and provided with mechanism for forcing it toward andunderneath such levers, and the pedal is moved a little out of true, soas to force the retainer against the ends of the levers.

I. claim 1. The combination, with the movable retainerto be elevated bya pedal, and with the damper and its operative lever, of the latch by apedal and to operate with the latch, suband its actuating-spring, andmeans for arstantially in manner and for the purpose as 1c resting theforward movement of the said latch, explained.

as explained.

2. The damper-lever provided with the GEORGE ASHIBGTOA EEILL' abutmentand the latch, its operative spring, lVitnesses: and adjustable stop, incombination with the R. H. EDDY,

damperand also with the retainer tobe moved I E. B. PRATT.

